Countdown to the Big Sports Sunday – 2nd Nov

Coming up is a hectic schedule of goodies for certain Sports Fans this weekend, including two Brits in World Championship contention in the final rounds of their respective sports:

Air Racing – Perth Air Race, Australia – Live online from 03:55 GMT
You can’t actually see this on broadcast live as far as I can tell but you can watch the various heats and the final live via the Red Bull website (03:55 GMT through to 06:30GMT). Paul Bonhomme from the UK has an outside shot at taking the Red Bull Air Race title at Perth, Australia. I admit its a long shot given the recent form of favourite, Hannes Arch from Austria, but I’ve just got to cheer for the Brit pilot.

2008 FIM World Superbike Championship, Portugal – Live on British Eurosport at 09:30 GMT
MotoGP has already ended for 2008 with Il Dottore, Valentino Rossi, taking the the title. Motocycling is represented this weekend with the World Superbikes final round at Portimao, Portugal on Sunday. This is a brand new circuit but otherwise unremarkable given that Aussie Troy Bayliss is already the 2008 champion. He succeeds James Toseland who shifted onto MotoGP this season with mixed results (11th placed). With Troy reported as bowing-out after this season, the race could show us who are the up-and-comers for 2009.

Rugby League – England v Australia, Melbourne – LIVE on Sky Sports 1 from 8:30am GMT
also -> live commentary on Radio 5 Live from 09:55 GMT
England take on Australia in the Rugby League World Cup down under. We’ve come in (as usual) for a load of good-natured Aussie ribbing and last weekend’s opening result against Papua New Guinea – where we did not exactly make it easy for ourselves – has added to the pressure. England rallied in the 2nd half to grab a 32-22 win. Not since 1972 has GB or England won the World Cup in Rugby League. Whilst it is unlikely to be our year this time, the match against hosts Australia could be a game worth seeing. Who knows – we may give the ‘Roos a run !

and, now, for the big one !! :
Formula One – Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos – LIVE from 15:10 GMT on ITV
Lewis Hamilton needs 5th or better to take the Formula One World Championship, the youngest ever champion. The Brazilian Grand Prix is the home race for his closest rival, Felipe Massa, but with it being usually a wet race, Lewis could come into his own. What is scary is that ‘tactical’ driving could be employed to take him out – but who in Formula One would be that unsporting ? Of course, I am sure that the stewards would deal severely with any such transgression ! Lewis has few allies amongst the other drivers and teams (not to mention the stewards !) and this could actually be the greater danger to his chances. More so than engine problems, perhaps, but I would not wanna give odds. Fingernails have been grown in anticipation of being chewed to the elbows on Sunday !